; he's thinking about games in the woods; hunting snakes,
catching 'gators, or killing 'coons. He's getting a nice howdacious
one, he is. If it wasn't for his black skin, you might think he was a
reg'lar boy."

"So he is," I said; "what difference does his skin make? I like old
Pomp."

"Well, sir," said Morgan, thoughtfully, "I like old Hannibal--old
Vanity, as you call him; but you know he is black."

"Of course."

"Very black, Master George. Why, I should say he's got the blackest
skin and the whitest teeth of any one I ever did see."

"And I dare say he thinks you've got the whitest skin and the blackest
teeth he ever saw."

"Now--now--now--now--Master George; gently there, if you please. My
skin's getting redder and browner every day, so as I don't half know
myself when I shaves; and as to my teeth, just wait till you've used
yours five-and-forty year, and had to eat such beef as I've had to eat
in the army, and you won't be quite so proud of them bits o' ivory of
yours, look you."

"Why don't you leave off saying `Look you,' Morgan? It's always `Look
you,' or `Teclare to cootness,' and it does sound so stupid."

"Not it, my lad," said Morgan, proudly. "It's that which shows I belong
to the Ancient British."

"Nonsense! You're a Welshman."

"Ah, you call me so, my lad, but I belong to the genuwyne old British
stock. You ask the captain if I don't. And as to my teeth, why, when
we was out with the army, I believe they used to buy all the old bulls,
and the older and harder they were the better they used to like 'em."

"Why?"

"Because they used to go the further. Ah, we did a lot of fighting on
it though, and I thought I'd come to the end of that sort of thing; but
it don't seem like it. Oh, how I do long to have a spade or a hoe in my
hand again. I say, Master George."

"Well?" I said, as I lay in the sun enjoying my returning strength, for
it came back fast.

"Think the master really means to go back and build up the house again?"

"Yes, I'm sure of it," I said.

"That's a good job, my lad, for it would be heartbreaking to know that
all we've done out there, planting fruit-trees and getting the place in
such nice trim, should be 'lowed to go back again to ruin, and grow over
into forest wilds, as it would in a year or two."

"Ah, that would be a pity, Morgan," I said, eagerly, as I thought of the
fruit-trees and the vines.

"I say, look here, Master George, I'm 'bout heart-brok